Pacers vs Bucks Recap: 3 Main Takeaways
The Indiana Pacers had a chance to prove to the league that they belonged in the upper tier of the Eastern Conference in their matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Pacers didn't capitalize on that opportunity, as they were completely outclassed in a 119-110 loss in Milwaukee. Reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 29 points, 12 boards and six assists as the Pacers defense often struggled to keep him from creating his own shot or dishing it out to an open teammate.
Indiana point guard Malcolm Brogdon left the game with a sore hip, logging just 11 minutes against his former team. Pacers star Victor Oladipo also missed the game with a sore knee, and Indiana couldn't find a way to succeed against the top team in the East without their two main ball handlers.
Last night's matchup with Milwaukee didn't tell us much about this team that we didn't already know, but it did paint a clear picture of where the Pacers stand in the Eastern Conference. Here a few of the main takeaways from last night's blowout loss:
The Pacers aren't elite without a healthy Oladipo
This was made clear last season when the Pacers were swept in the first round of the playoffs against the Boston Celtics, and last night was another reminder. Indiana without Oladipo at 100% is a solid playoff team that can hope to win a playoff series or two. With guard Jeremy Lamb out for the year and Brogdon frequently struggling with injuries, there is even less room for error and an even greater need for Oladipo to play a larger role as he gets back into the swing of things.
Myles Turner is a prototypical rim protector
The Pacers have always known that Turner's length and defensive savvy made him one of the best in the league when it comes to protecting the rim, and that was on full display last night in Milwaukee. Turner went head to head with Antetokounmpo on multiple occasions and locked him up for a jump ball twice. Many players tend to get out of the way when Giannis has a full head of steam towards the rim, and rightfully so, but Turner stepped up to the challenge every chance he got and came away with a few blocks to show for it. The defense struggled without Turner on the floor last night and Giannis got what he wanted whenever Turner wasn't under the rim to stop him.
Turner takes pride in his defense, as seen by his disappointment in missing the All-Defensive teams last season, and that passion paired with his lack of fear when going up against the best in the league is what makes him one of the top rim protector's in the league.
Doug McDermott is a walking bucket
McDermott has been known for his smooth shooting stroke and lethal accuracy from beyond the arc since his college days at Creighton, and those skills were on full display the past two games. Against the Bucks and the San Antonio Spurs, McDermott combined for 11-14 shooting while knocking down 7-8 of his shots from three-point range. McDermott played a major role in getting the Pacers back into the game after another abysmal start for Indiana, scoring nine straight points to spark the offense while also spacing the floor and giving Domantas Sabonis and Turner plenty of room to work in the paint. When you watch McDermott speed around screens and launch three after three, you can't help but think of other legendary sharpshooters like Kyle Korver or even - dare I say it - Reggie Miller. The Pacers will need McDermott to continue to provide that shooting and floor spacing if they want to seriously contend in the East.
Currently sitting at fifth in the East with a record of 37-25, Indiana still has an opportunity to crack the top-four and earn home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Eleven of the Pacers 20 games remaining are against teams currently in the playoff picture, with eight of those games coming against Eastern Conference contenders. The Pacers will have plenty of opportunities from here on out to prove they're better than they showed in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.